butler



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. G. BUTLER. SGEAPER OPERATING APPARATUS.

No. 491,765. Patented Feb. 14, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

v H. G. BUTLER. SORA'PER OPERATING APPARATUS.

No. 491,765. I Patented Feb. 14, 1893.

uuuuuuuuu THE uomws wzTcRs co. Pno'mumou WASHINGTON n. c.

STATES PATENT Onr n.

HENRY G. BUTLER, OF KENOSl-IA, WISCONSIN, AbblGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM BUTLER, OF SAME PLACE.

SCRAPER-OPERATING APPARATUS."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,765, dated February 14, 1893.

Application filed eptembar 19, 1892. Serial No. 446393. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: preferably by pivotally supporting it at its Be it known that I, HENRY G. BUTLER, a inner end and, at its outer end, by stay-rods citizen of the United States, residing atKenoor cable q fastened to the upper portion of sha, in the county of Kenosha and State of the mast. 5 Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful D and E are drums loosely supported on Improvement in Scraper-Operating Appararotary shafts p and 0 journaled in suitable toe, of which the following is a specification. supports on the car and provided with clutch- My invention relates to an improvement in mechanism for causing, at will, the drums to the class of apparatus involving cable-windrotate with them. The clutch-mechanism is 6o [0 ing mechanism for operatinga scraper, dredge preferably of the friction-clutch variety, and or other form of conveying means, such comprises expanded disk-heads n and 'm of would be employed in railroad grade and levee the respective drums, having flange-extenconstruction, dredging, excavating for founsions n and m widening outwardly to form dations and sewers, for feeding clay to the the female parts of the clutches, and the disks 5 fire in burning clay to make ballast, and in n and m rigidly secured on the shafts and stone-quarries, and the like; and it relates, having tapering flange-extensions n and m more definitely stated, to an improvement in to receive and be engaged by the flange-exthe class of such mechanism in which the tensions n and m. As means for workwinding mechanism involves a pair of winding the drums back and forth on their shafts 7o 2 ing-drums supported on a preferably locomoto clutch and unclutch them, each may be five base, such as a car or boat, and driven provided (see Fig. 2) with a worm-collar o opby a suitable engine and controllable to proerated by a handle 1; to work in a journalduce the three filling, hoisting and conveying bearing of the respective shaft. The disks operations of the scraper. n and m which are made hollow for light- 25 My improved apparatus is advantageously ness and economy, are provided circumferenapplicable to any of the uses referred to, but tially with cog-teeth t, engaged by an interfor the sake of convenience and to avoid proposed pinion F on the rotary driving-shaft lixity, I confine the description hereinafter F, driven by any suitable engine, (not shown, contained, mainly, to use thereof in connecbut preferably of the double cylinder and 3 tion with ballast-burning and illustrate it in piston steam-variety.) lhus the two shafts the form best adapted thereto in the accomp and 0 with their clutch-sections n and m panying drawings, in which are constantly driven in corresponding direc- Figure 1 is a View in end elevation, diations and accordingly drive the drums when grammatic in its nature, of the apparatus; Fig. clutched to them.

35 2, a section taken at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1, G is a counter-shaft journaled in suitable viewed in the direction of the arrows, and enbearings in the upper portion of the car, and larged; Fig. 3, a broken enlarged view showcarrying, near one end, the fast pulley Z, and ing drum and counter-shaft mechanism in near the opposite end a pair of loose pulleys side elevation with their sheave-connecting 7c and 7;, adapted to be alternately engaged 9o 4 belts in dotted representation; and Fig. 4:, a with the countershaft .to rotate with it by section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 1, viewed means of an interposed clutch H, of any suitin the direction of the arrow and enlarged. able or well-known construction. The pul- A is the support for my improved mechanleys 7c and i are connected with pulleys It and ism, shown in the form of a car movable on a 2'', fast on the shaft 1) of the drum D, respect- 45 track 0", which may be considered, for the purivelybya straight endless beltk and a crossed poses of the further description, to extend endless belt '6 and the clutch-disk 'm of the along a pile of burning clay or ballast-burning drum E forms a pulley connected by a straight fire, toward which the boom B projects. endless belt Z with the fast pulleyl on the Cis a tower or mast structure extending counter-shaft. I00

5 above the roof of the car to which, in a usual I is a conveyor or scraper, of any suitable or any suitable manner, is attached the boom, construction, but preferably, for the connection herein shown, involving that of the scraper set forth in my concurrent application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 446,29l filed on the 19th day of September, 1892. From the draft-bar h at its forward end, the scraper I is connected with the drum E by a cable 0 wound about the drum a desired number of times,proceeding thence, over a sheave 9 under a sheavecarriage I, having a bifurcated extension d on its base between the prongs of which the hanger s of the scraper is pivotally supported. From the carriage the cable proceeds over a guide-pulley w at the end of the boom where it is thus suspended to the supplemental pivotal hangers near the rear end of the scraper. If the scraper be provided, as represented, with a hinged bottom adapted to be fastened, when closed, by a catch .9 the latter may be operated to release the bottom and permit it to fall for dumping the contents of the scraper, by connecting it through the medium of a cable 8 with a sheave s loosely supported on an end of the drum-shaft o carrying a suitable clutch s for engaging the sheave with the shaft at will.

I prefer that the pulley gshall be vertically movable, and to that end support it in a block g confined between vertical guides g in the mast-structure, and suspended, on a sheave w journaled on the upper end of the mast, at one end of a cable 0, the opposite end of which is connected with a pulley f, in all respects like the pulley g, being supported in a block f confined to move verticallyin guides f The pulley f should be considerably heavier than the pulley g, as by weighting, to cause it the better to counterbalance the latter and the scraper and to take up the slack of the cable 0 while the scraper is filling. The pulleyfis connected with the drum D by a cable 0 fastened at one end to the drum, passing thence over the pulleyfand fastened at its opposite end to a stationary object, as to the base of the mast.

The operation is as follows: Supposingthe scraper to be down on the ground in position to be dragged toward the car A to fill, and the shaft F to bein motion in the direction indicated by an arrow on Fig. 1, (whereby the shafts p and 0 will be rotated continuously in the direction indicated by arrows) then by clutching the drum E to its shaft 0 the cable 0 will be wound at the length between the drum E and draft-bar h and drag the scoop toward the car, thereby filling it, the practically endless cable 0 meantime paying out in the opposite direction to permit the described hauling or dragging thereof. The clutch of the drum E is then actuated to release it, and that of the rear drum D actuated to clutch the latter to its shaft, whereby the cable 0 is wound thereon and thus shortened, thereby pulling downward the block f and consequently raising the block g, which effectshauling up the cable 0, and the exertion of a rapid lift on the scraperlsimultaneously at its hanger-bars and draw-bar. scraper has been thus lifted to the desired elevation, the drum D is unclutched and a brake applied to quickly overcome its inertia. This brake is represented in the form of a metal band e supported to extend circumferentially about the upper portion of the periphery of the disk-flange n and having its ends connected with a foot-lever e, whereby pressure on the lever will tighten or clamp the band against the disk. Then the scraper is rapidly carried outward to any desired distance toward the end of the boom B, to the point of dumping on the fire, by clutching the pulley t to the counter-shaft, whereby the crossed-belt-connection of the drum-shaft pulley t" with the counter-shaft rotates the latter in a direction which effects, through the pulley land belt Z, rotation of the clutch-disk m and drum E in a direction contrary to that already described thereof and indicated by an arrow, causing the cable 0 to pay out accordingly between the drum and scraper draft-bar h. The inertia of the scraperin proceeding to the point of dumping is quite great, so that its'momentum is sufficien-t, on releasing the clutch H and applying the clutch s when the desired point of dumping is reached, to trip the catch 8 and permit the scraperbottom to fall. Thereupon the scraper is rapidly hauled back to the point of filling by clutching the pulley 76 on the counter-shaft G, whereby it is rotated, correspondingly with the drum-shaftp, in the direction causing its pulley Z and belt-connection with the clutchhead m on the drum E to rotate the latter rapidly in the direction for winding upon it the cable 0 from the scraper-hanger It. When the scraper has thus been quickly brought to the filling point and the brake on the drum D released to permit the scraper to drop into filling position, whereby the pulleysfand g resume the normal positions in which they are illustrated, the counter-shaft pulley Z0 is unclutched and the drum E is again clutched to its shaft 0 to be thereby rotated in the direction to effect, slowly, the refilling of the scraper, whereupon the hoisting, conveying and dumping operations on the loaded scraper are again successively produced in the manner already described.

The operations of lifting the scraper, carrying it to the point of dumping, and returning it to the filling point are, thus,performed rapidly by reason of the comparatively large diameters of the pulleys on the dru m-shafts and counter-shaft broughtinto play for these purposes; and it will also be seen that the filling operation, which is effected entirely by the winding of the length of cable 0 extending from the scraper draft-bar h, on the drum E of comparatively small diameter, is accordingly slow. These functions are important,

, since, as will be understood, there is object in speeding the first-named operations of the scraper while the filling thereof, to be reliable and effective, should be comparatively slow When the for steadiness, that is to prevent tipping or umping.

Where the nature of the work to be performed requires a thickness of the cable 0 between the scraper and drum E that would render it too inflexible to run readily over the pulleys, that portion of the cable which runs over the pulleys may be provided in two or more adequately flexible thinner strands both fastened to the drum, and provided in sufficiently extra length and lapped on the drum an extra number of times to insure the winding on of the thick section while the thinner ones are unwinding.

While the several operations are described as proceeding singly, an operator will readily become sufficiently expert to perform simultaneously those that are intended to be so performed,

It will be observed that, inasmuch as the scraper is conveyed by the carriage I on the cable a as it ascends and descends, the advantage ensues of the employment of the gravity of the scraper in traveling by reason of the center of gravity changing with the rise and fall of the front pulley g. This function of the pulley g is, however, not vitally important in my improvement, as the power for producing the hoisting and traveling operations of the scraper may be applied directly over a pulley g, if stationary.

For some classes of work, as in removing mounds, where the track can not be laid 011 the top of them, in banking railways, and the like, the scraper requires to be operated for filling in the contrary direction to that described, when the cable 0 on the drum E would be accordingly reversed and the scraper pointed outward.

It should be mentioned thatinstead of employing a boom B, the cable 0 can be suspended at a point as far away from the winding'mechanism and as high as maybe desired; and the anchorage may be a movable tower. In the latter case the apparatus is especially serviceable as a mere conveyer, the carriage I then serving as a medium for supporting any suitable form of receptacle or holder.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In an apparatus of the nature set forth, the combination with a drivingshaft on a suitable support, of winding mechanism having drums loosely supported on rotary shafts provided with clutch-mechanism, a counter-shaftcarrying loose pulleys respectively geared reversely with one of said drums, clutch-mechanism for said pulleys and a tight pulley geared with the other drum, and a traveling conveyer supported on a cable fastened atits opposite ends to the last-named drum and suspended between its ends at a suitable distance from the winding mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the nature set forth, the combination, with a driving-shaft on a suitable support, of winding mechanism com pris ing a pair of drums D andEloosely supported on rotary shafts provided with clutch-mechanism, a counter-shaft geared to the drum D to be rotated thereby in either direction at will and geared to the drum E to rotate it in the direction of rotation of the drum D,a cable 0 fastened at opposite ends to the drum E, and suspended between its ends at a suitable distance from the winding mechanism, and a traveling conveyer, supported on the cable, the drum E being operated by the drum D through the counter-shaft to propel and return the conveyer, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the nature set forth, the combination with a driving-shaft on a suitable support, of winding-mechanism comprisin g a pair of drums D and E loosely supported on rotary shafts provided with clutoh-mechanism involving the disk-gears n and m a pinion on the driving-shaft between and meshing with said disk-gears, a counter-shaft geared to the drum D to be rotated thereby in either direction at will and geared to the drum E to rotate it'in the direction of rotation of the'drum D, a cable 0 fastened at opposite ends to the drum E, and suspended between its ends at a suitable distance from the winding mechanism, and a traveling scraper supported on and fastened to the cable, the drum E being operated by the drum D through the counter-shaft to wind and unwind the cable for propelling and returning the scraper and directly by the driving-shaft to wind the cable for filling the scraper, substantially as described.

at. In an apparatus of the nature set forth, the combination with a driving-shaft on a suitable support of winding drums D and E and a counter-shaft G through the medium of which the drum E is geared with and driven by the drum D, a cable a fastened at opposite ends to the drum E and suspended between its ends at a suitable distance from the winding mechanism, and a conveyer supported onthe cable, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the nature set forth, the combination with a driving-shaft on a suitable support, carrying a mast O, of winding mechanism comprising a pair of drums D and E loosely supported on rotary shafts provided with clutch-mechanism, a counter-shaft G geared to the drum D to be rotated thereby in either direction at will and geared to the drum E to rotate it in the direction of rotation of the drum D, vertically movable pulleys g andfin guides on the mast and connected by a cable 0 passing over a guide 10, a cable 0 fastened at opposite ends to the drum E, suspended between its ends at a suitable distance from the windingmechanism, and passing over the pulley g, a traveling conveyer supported on the cable cand a cable a fastened at one end to the mast, passing thence over the pulley f and fastened at its opposite end to the drum D, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described,

6. In an apparatus of the nature set forth, J

the combination With a driving shaft on a suitable support carrying a mast C, of Winding mechanism comprising a pair of drums Dand E loosely supported on rotary shafts provided with clutch-mechanism, a countershaft G geared to the drum D to be rotated thereby in either direction at will and geared to the drum E to rotate it in the direction of rotation of the drum D, vertically movable pulleys g and fin guides on the mast and connected by a cable a passing over a guide w, a cable 0 fastened at opposite ends to the drum E, suspended between its ends at asuitable distance from the winding mechanism andlpassing over the pulley g, a traveling scraper I having a hinged bottom provided with a catch connected with the drum E, said scraper being supported on and fastened to the cable a, a cable 0 fastened at one end to the mast, passing thence over the pulley f and fastened at its opposite end to the drum D, a dumping attachment on the drum E-and a brake for the drum D, the Whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

7. A scraper-operating apparatus comprising, in combination with a support A carrying a mast O, boom B, and driving-shaft F, having a pinion F, rotary shafts p and 0 provided with clutch gear-disks n and m meshing with the pinion, drums D and E loosely supported on said rotary shafts and provided with clutch-heads n and 'm and means for throwing them in and out of clutch, a brake for the drum D, pulleys k and ifixed on the shaft 19, a countershaft G carrying loose pul- .leys k and 11 provided with an interposed clutch H and respectively geared by a straight beltk and a cross-belt With the pulleys k and i, a fixed pulley Z on the counter-shaft connected by a belt Z with the clutch-head m of the drum E, pulleys g and f supported and vertically movable in guides on the mast and connected by a cable 0' passing over a guide-pulley w, a cable 0 fastened at one end to the mast, passing thence overthe pulleyfand fastened at its opposite end to the drum D, a cable 0 passing over apulley to at the end of the boom and over the pulleyg and fastened at its opposite ends to the drum E,

a scraper I supportedand fastened on the cable 0 and having a hinged bottom 1' provided With a catch 5 and a dumping-attach ment on the drum E-with which the said catch is connected, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

HENRY G. BUTLER. In presence ot' W. W. WILLIAMS, M. J. FROST. 

